Danger-signal.



J. H. SANOR.

DANGER SIGNAL.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 2s, 190s.

1,068,082, Patented July 22, 1913.

@Evita/mono ttomwb TTED STATES PATENT FllTCE..

JOI-IN H. SANOR, F CANTON, OHIO.

DANGER-STGNAL.

Application tiled November 28, 1908.

To all fro/tom` 'it muy concern Re it known that l', JOHN H. Saison, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Canton, in the county ot Stark and State ot tlhio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Danger-Signals; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description ot the same.

The object ot the present invention is to provide means whereby accidents may be avoided in the movements ot trains upon railway tracks and the invention has specific reference to the prevention of collisions regardless ot the tact as to whether or not the trains are approaching each other or one train following the other in close relationship. This object and purpose may be accomplished by the arrangement hereinafter described and by the devices shown in the accompanying drawing` making a part ot this specification.

Tn said drawings z-Figure l is a View showing a section of railway track and illus trating the forward axles of two cars, but the trucks are not shown, also showii'ig a diagrammatic arrangement and connection tor the light signals and batteries and relays and dynamo or generator. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of one ot' the railway rails and the insulation as located at intervals, whereby blocks or sections ot track oit any desired length .may be produced, also showing a spring contact plate in proper relative position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding1 parts in the tigures ot' the drawing.

Tn the accompanying drawing, l repre sents the railway rails which are ot the usual construction, but in order to carry out the objects and purposes ot the invention the railway track is divided into blocks or sections, the rails being insulated atthe terminals of the sections. The object ot this is to prevent a waste ot current and at the same time produce light signals along the railway track at comparatively short intervals. At the inner sides ot the railway rails l are located a series ot spring contacts 2, which are so formed and located that when the wheels of a locomotive or cars pass said spring contacts they will be brought into close contact with the railway rails by the flanges of the wheels which contact closes a circuit providing that at the same time the spring contacts are brought into contact with Specitcaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22', 1913.

Seria1No-Ltt-437.

the opposite rail in the section but the wir ing is s0 arranged as to the sections` that the circuit will not be closed unless the spring contacts are brought into engagement with both rails in the section. Tn order to provide for this arrangement or more specilt cally speaking to provide against the closing,Y ot the circuit except at such times when two trains are approaching each other on the same track, or two trains are closely tollowing each other on the saine track in a given section the spring contacts 2 are coupled up in series by means ot the wires 3 each ot' the series being longer than the length ot any train designed to pass over the road, and are so termed tor the purpose of preventing any flickeringl of the signals and at the same time keeping one or more ot the spring contacts 52 in proper contact with the rail duringthe entire time the. train is passing the given series. lt will also be understood that the distance between the different series of spring contacts should be greater than the length of any train so that a single train will not actuate or close the circuit by coming upon two se 'ies at one time, which series are staggered and the oppositcly staggered series ot' contact plates must he brought into engagement with both rails betere the circuit is closed. lt will therefore be understood that iii the space between the series is not greater than the length ot a single train, the train would close the circuit and show the danger signals when unnecessary and when there was no danger of accident.

For the purpose of showing a given section electrically connected I have illustrated the wires l which are simply for the purpose ot showing a continuation ot electric connection which actually takes place in the railway rails when the current is on and the wires #lto take up the interveningspace or the gap shown in the section. For the purpose ot cutting` ott the current as between the sections the rails ot the track are insu lated as shown at by which arrangement no current is to pass from one insulated section to another through the railway track but may be carried by the wires.

ln use one battery (3 and one source el' lighting current, such as a storage battery or a generator 7 and one relay 8 must be provided for each section or block which parts are located between the insulations 5 of one rail ot the track, but the opposite rail of the track may be provided with insulation midway between the insulation of the opposite rail.

Let it be supposed that a pair ot1 axles are in such position that the wheels bring the spring contacts 2 into contact with both rails at the same time; 'the circuit is now closed, and this may occur by two trains approaching each other or two trains closely following each other in the same section. Now, starting at the battery 6 the current may pass through the conductor 9 through the relays S into the line wire 10, the switches 11 and 12 being normally open and thence to the conductor 13 and int-o the wire 3, thence across the truck through the axles 14 through the track and to the rail and wire 3a and thence to the return conductor 15 into the return side ot the battery. rlhis current closes the armature 16 and the circuit breaker 17 and the currentis conveyed through the conductor 18 to the line wire 19 and the short conductor 20 and thence to the line wire 21 and the light wires 22, returning on the line wire 21 through the conductor 23 to the generator 7, the generator being connected by the wire or conductor 2st which leads to the circuit breaker 17 and the current conveyed from the generator to the lights. 1f in the event a signal is desired independent of any trains as for instance a land slide has occurred or a bridge burned or any other obstruction has occurred to the train or trains the switch 25 may be closed and the current shunted past the circuit breaker 17 and conveyed over the same wires as above described. lTVhen it is desired to use the battery circuit the switch 11 may be closed. The closing' of switch 11 causes current from the battery to energize the relay magnets 8, thereby actuating the circuit breaker switch 17 and thus connecting the generator with the line wires to light the signals. 1f in the event an obstruction is placed upon the track and it for any cause it should be desirable to turn the signals on by track walkers or other authorized persons the switch 12 is closed, which switch may be located at the side of the track within the block or section, or a series of switches may be employed and spaced from each other tor convenience in cases ot emergency. The closing of the switch 12 will conduct the battery current through the conductor 27 the wires oa and the return battery wire 15. For the purpose of cutting in or out, all of the series oit' lights otl a given section or block division switches such as 28 may be employed and opened and closed in the usual manner.

rlhe groups of spring contacts should be of such a length that a passing train will take up the necessary current for a sufficient time to actuate the signal. These groups may be ot' any desired length, that is to say a mile or any fractional part thereof. The exact length is immaterial.

Having fully described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. in a signal device the combination of a railway track, each of the rails of which is divided into sections by insulation, the insulation in the respective rails being arranged in staggered relation, groups of spring contacts arranged along the track, the individual members of each group being connected in series and alternate groups arranged adjacent to the insulation in the opposite rails of the track and in the path of the wheels ot the train, a battery and con ductors leading from opposite Ysides of the battery to adjacent groups of spring contacts, a magnet included in one of said conductors and an electrically operated signal controlled by said magnet.

2. ln a signal device, the combination of a railway track, each of the rails ot which is divided into sections by insulation, the insulation in the respective rails being arranged in staggered relation, groups of spring contacts arranged along the track, the individual members ot each group being connected in series and alternate groups arranged adjacent to the insulation in the opposite rails of the track and in the path of the wheels of a passing train, a battery and conductors leadinO from opposite sides ot the battery to adjacent groups of spring contacts, a magnet included in one of said conductors and electrically operated signals controlled by said magnet, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ln testimony that. l claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. A

JOHN H. SANOR. Witnesses:

F. Vf. BOND, SrLvIA BORON.

Uopes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

